US announces visa policy to promote polls in Bangladesh

The United States on Wednesday announced a new visa policy to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections, reports BSS.

“Under this policy, the United States will be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh,” US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said in statement while announcing the new visa policy.

He said Washington notified the Bangladeshi government of this decision on May 3 last.

The secretary of state said the policy includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services.

“Actions that undermine the democratic election process include vote rigging, voter intimidation, the use of violence to prevent people from exercising their right to freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, and the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views,” read the statement.

It said, the holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone-voters, political parties, the government, the security forces, civil society, and the media.

“I am announcing this policy to lend our support to all those seeking to advance democracy in Bangladesh,” Blinken added.